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Relentless derby proves immune to new philosophies

Everton 3 Liverpool 3

Tony Barrett

November 25 2013, 12:01am, The Times

If this does not put a stop to talk that the passion of the Merseyside derby will be diluted by the philosophies of Roberto Martínez and Brendan Rodgers, nothing will. Frenetic, chaotic, breathless and at times controversial, the pulsating 3-3 draw that Everton and Liverpool produced was a timely reminder that it will take a great deal more than a commitment to possession-based football for this fixture’s status as a force of nature to be diminished.

Not since an equally memorable 4-4 draw between the clubs in 1991 has this local skirmish contained so many of the ingredients that characterise a classic derby. Six goals shared evenly, end-to-end football with blows being traded relentlessly, a contender for miss of the season, and the kind of…